Above the Net

Peter Dimpfl, president of the ISU Men’s Volleyball club, gears up for practice before their big tournament Saturday. The ISU Men’s Volleyball club will be playing against other schools across the Midwest in hopes to be the winner of “Chaos in the Cornfield.” Photo: Shing Kai Chan/Iowa State Daily

Rachel Servais
January 28, 2009

A team composed of dedicated and motivated players and a part of the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, the ISU Men’s Volleyball Club has experienced a difficult transition from previous officers. Working as a team, the club is now in great shape for its upcoming season and this weekend’s tournament.

This Saturday, the club will host the “Chaos in the Cornfield Tournament” in 175 Forker, a free event for everyone.

The club will be competing against 16 schools from across the Midwest Region, including University of Minnesota, University of Iowa and University of Nebraska.

Peter Kataras, senior in construction engineering and treasurer of the ISU Men’s Volleyball Club, played a major part in the turnaround of the club, paving the way to a new start and more victories.

“Peter Dimpfl and I turned the team around by taking the lead to advertise and organize the club in terms of finances and fundraising,” Kataras said of the club president and senior in mechanical engineering. “We really turned around our performance and are doing a lot better.”

Scott Hoefler, junior in agricultural business and vice president of the ISU Men’s Volleyball Club, said the team now has members committed to showing up for practice, exhibit better skills and have more leadership skills. All around, Hoefler said they have had more productive practices.

The team has also labored with the president and treasurer to promote the team and do fundraising, Hoefler said.

“We worked hard to put more effort into fundraising by selling T-shirts, magazines and advertising. And we have a great treasurer,” Hoefler said.

Hoefler is looking forward to the upcoming season and this weekend’s tournament where he can feel the excitement of the game.

“It’s feeling the excitement of each point, each great pass and each great serve, great teamwork and the great rush that I get playing volleyball that keeps me in the game,” Hoefler said.

This tournament comes once a year and Hoefler said the bigger the crowd, the better the team tends to play.

“We hold this event every year around February,” Hoefler said. “It’s nice to get other teams involved, and we hope to have high attendance because we always play better with an audience.”

Kataras said the team used to be ranked in the lower half of competing teams and has now increased their winning percentage.

Last year, the club finished third in this tournament and expects to do well while having a great time, Kataras said.

“We expect to finish with a trophy and do really well this weekend,” Kataras said.

The Event:

“Chaos in the Cornfield”

When: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: 175 Forker

Cost: Free

The ISU Men’s Volleyball Club will take on 16 schools from across the Midwest.

Cardinal Team:

Peter Dimpfl

Dan Doerr